Accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates last June cut off their diplomatic relations with Qatar. They banned their citizens from visiting Qatar and Qataris from entering their countries. They asked all Qatari citizens to leave their countries within two weeks. Other GCC member countries took similar actions. The Arab League led by Saudi Arabia expelled Qatar from the organization and asked Qatar to expel members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas from Qatar. Saudi Arabia also asked Qatar to cut its diplomatic ties with Iran. Root cause The reason for the crisis was Qatar’s alleged support for IS, terrorism and an ideology of extremism but the root cause was the Iran issue. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries want Qatar to join their efforts to contain Iran’s influence. Though Qatar rejects the ideology of Iran’s Shiite group, it has maintained cooperative and friendly relations with Iran and has participated in joint oil exploitation projects in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia, by contrast, considers Iran its archenemy. The dispute between Qatar and Saudi Arabia over their relations with Iran increased after US President Donald Trump’s visit, during which he and Saudi Arabia’s Emir called Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. Qatar urged its neighbors to reduce their criticism and improve their ties with Iran. The crisis is in fact a regional power struggle. Until it is resolved, it will weaken stability in the region and the world. Shadowed future Repeated efforts were made in… [Read full story]

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Iran also announced it had sent tonnes of vegetables to Qatar, which has seen food imports threatened after its neighbours cut air, sea and land links with the country.Nearly a week after Saudi Arabia and several of its allies severed ties with Qatar in an unprecedented Gulf diplomatic crisis, there were no signs of the bitter dispute being resolved.Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others accused Qatar of supporting extremist groups, an assertion since backed by US President Donald Trump.Qatar strongly rejects the allegations and says it is open to talks on ending the dispute, which also saw…... [read more]

Ambassador Nguyen Hoang said the embassy has been active in keeping the community updated and has “urged local people to stay calm and closely watch the developments of the situation.”According to the embassy, nearly 2,000 Vietnamese people are living and working in Qatar, including 1,800 unskilled workers in construction companies. The rest works in aviation services, sanitation and beauty care. Meanwhile, nearly 20 families of Vietnamese doctors, engineers working in universities, research institutes as well as oil and gas groups, live in the capital of Doha.Hoang said he would coordinate with Vietnamese and Qatar agencies to protect Vietnamese citizens and their properties.A group…... [read more]

Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a letter of congratulation to the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - India diplomatic relations, the 10th anniversary of Vietnam - India strategic partnership (July 6, 2007-2017) and the VIFA's 35th founding anniversary (November 11, 1982-2017). In his congratulation letter, the PM stressed that Vietnam and India have a time-honored traditional relationship, which was founded by the two great leaders, President Ho Chi Minh and PM Jawaharlal Nehru, and that traditional relationship has been constantly developing through the two nations’ cause for national salvation construction and defense.Over the past 45 years,…... [read more]

The crisis-hit Gulf Cooperation Council summit was going ahead in Kuwait City despite uncertainty over which leaders from among Riyadh and its allies would in the end join their Qatari rival for the talks.The future of the six-nation GCC - formed 36 years ago to bring together energy-rich Sunni-led Gulf Arab states - appeared to be hanging in the balance.This year's meeting comes with Saudi Arabia and its allies engaged in a bitter dispute with fellow GCC member Qatar, in the worst crisis ever to hit the bloc.Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani accepted an invitation to attend, but…... [read more]

U.S. President Donald Trump offered on Wednesday to help resolve a worsening diplomatic crisis between Qatar and other Arab powers as the United Arab Emirates invoked the possibility of an economic embargo on Doha over its alleged support of terrorism. In his second intervention in the row in as many days, Trump urged action against terrorism in a call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a White House statement said. "The President offered to help the parties resolve their differences, including through a meeting at the White House if necessary," it said. Trump, in a later call with…... [read more]